Page 25 of Hollow Nights

I bent down, dipping my claw in the demon’s blood, stepping to the closed bathroom door and dragging the tip along the hard wooden surface. As I removed my claw, the symbol there glowed orange, black smoke seeping from under the door.

“Axelle.” Libra grabbed my arm as she watched with wide eyes, a thin layer of fear falling from her body. I inhaled it, enjoying the smell a little too much.

Three hard knocks hit the door as I snapped my focus back to it. The door knob slowly turned as Amity stepped into the bathroom, grinning.

“Hello, Axelle,” she purred, her glowing eyes immediately bolting to Libra, then to the headless body on the floor. She inhaled deeply, licking her lips with her long tongue as her tail wagged. “Well, someone’s been a busy monster. The room is bursting with sex and death. Such a deadly combination.” Her eyes fell back to Libra, obviously enjoying the sight of her. “So you're the naughty little fleshbag I’ve heard so much about.” Amity stepped closer, bending down to examine Libra closely, her tits nearly falling from the thin, black leather straps that held them. I growled a warning, wrapping my arm around Libra’s stomach.

“Oh, calm down, big boy. I’m not going to hurt the human—not unless she wants me to.” Amity flashed a sinister smile as hertail grabbed a hand towel from the counter, dropping it against my chest. “Show some respect; not all of us want to see that beast between your legs.” I placed the hand towel over my dick, growling. “You really got lucky with this one, didn’t you, Axelle?” Her tail stroked Libra’s cheek as it turned bright red.

I wasn’t sure if it was the lingering effects of the demon blood or seeing Amity, but I could sense a little excitement growing between my human’s legs.Interesting.

“Well,” Amity straightened her back, crossing her arms, “I’m assuming you summoned me to take care ofthat.” She pointed to the body. I nodded. “Shame; I was half hoping to walk into some bloody orgy. Oh well, maybe another time.” I carefully moved Libra aside as Amity grabbed one of the demon’s arms, dragging it toward the door.

“Let me help you,” I dropped the little towel and grabbed the other arm, the two of us pulling the demon to the bathroom door.

“You know, you can’t summon me every time you make a mess or have a problem,” Amity groaned, dropping the body in the doorway. “One of these days, I’m going to call on you to fix my shit. If you’re even still alive after this.”

“What does she mean by that?” Libra asked. Fuck, I was hoping she didn’t hear that.

Amity shot me a look, cocking her head as she turned to face Libra. “He didn’t tell you.” She rubbed her temple. “Damn it, Axelle.”

“We don’t know if it’s really even true,” I snapped. “No one else has ever done this before?—”

“Yeah, ‘cause it’s a big fucking rule!”

“Rule? Axelle,” Libra gripped her towel, stepping towards us, “did you break another rule when you killed him?” I sighed, lowering my head. “Why?” she demanded.

“Libra, he was about to claim you.” Amity shook her head as I shot her a look and snarled. She threw her hands up, grabbing the dead man’s arm, dragging it further through the doorway. “I couldn’t let that happen. Plus, you were literally drowning.”

“Axelle,” she said my name with a softness. “What’s the punishment for this?” She motioned to the body as Amity kicked it. “For killing another demon?”

“Death.”

“Dammit it!” I snarled, hissing at Amity. “We don’t know that!”

“Yes, we do! Every demon does. By killing another monster, you forfeit your own. Unless?—”

“No,” I cut her off. She sighed, looking around the bathroom.

“Where’s his head?” I pointed to the corner of the room as she stuck her claws into the demon’s eye sockets and mouth, picking it up like a bowling ball.

“Unless what?” Libra asked.

Amity froze, her eyes shooting to me as I glared at her, silently begging her not to answer the question. She shook her head.

“You need to tell her?—”

“No,” I growled, threatening her. Amity hissed back at me, revealing her sharp teeth.

“Amity,” Libra spoke her name, breaking the tension. “Tell me.” The female demon looked at me then darted her eyes to Libra. “Unless what?”

“It’s said that the only way to save a demon’s life once they’ve killed another,” she shot me a dirty look, “is by asking their human to make the ultimate sacrifice.” Libra’s heart visibly sank at the words. “But the only way such a thing would ever happen is if a monster killed a human for theirs then killed another demon as it tried to claim the same human. So, you two,” she pointed back to me, “are in a very unique position. I don’t knowof any other sleep demons who have been here before, but unless you make the ultimate sacrifice to save him, Axelle will die.”

“When?” It made me sick to hear the pain in her voice.

“Twenty-four hours after the murder. So, by the looks of it,” she picked up the body, draping it over her shoulder, standing in the bathroom doorway, “you have until tonight, the end of Halloween.”

Amity stood there in the doorway, looking between the two of us.

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